ORIGIN

The Denmark Four: 1950 Nimbus

Classic four cylinder motorcycles are a thing of beauty, with only a few manufacturers ever having taken the plunge. The Danish entry was the Nimbus, which stands out even in a crowd of other classic fours. This running example looks remarkably original, save perhaps for a very old respray. Find it here on eBay in Vergas, Minnesota.

Though many of the pictures in this listing are from odd angles, this Nimbus is a very handsome-motorcycle. Some details are a bit worn, but not past the point of functionality. This is definitely a “sort and go” bike, as much of this its character can be attributed to its current condition.

The seller included the above video in his listing, which gives a nice walk around as well as some footage of the engine running. We are thankful that he pointed out this bike’s very unique side stand setup, which is a highly novel detail we would have otherwise missed altogether. We do have to question the gratuitous use of blue RTV on the petcock, though.

The 746cc straight four that powers this Nimbus is not a high-powered mill, but is one which was designed for stress-free reliability. We like the look of the exposed valve train, despite the fact that it may have been a bit antiquated by 1950. We agree with the seller in that it is an interesting thing to watch.

Though the Nimbus is an old Danish bike, a surprising number of these are still on the road today and parts are more easily accessible than you would ever think. The seller referenced us to King Croesus Contempt for Death Trip 2009, which is a fascinating read about two men who rode a couple of these bikes all the way around the globe. That feat alone should speak more for this bike than we ever could.